Helium
by Jeff Hathorn

	Helium is the second element on the periodic table. It has two 
protons, two neutrons, and two electrons. Its atomic number is two and its 
atomic mass is about four. Helium is lighter than air (which has helium in 
it) so it makes balloons float. Helium is used to pressurize rockets.

	Helium: "You couldn't even get off the ground"
	Rocket: "Get off my back! It's too much pressure!"

	Helium also makes people talk weird when inhaled. I will now attempt 
to describe how helium accomplishes this in my mind. I think that the 
helium surrounds the larynx, or organ used in speech, and tightens the 
vocal cord. This would have the same effect as gradually tightening a 
rubber band and plucking it. This is not as interesting as the after affect 
of talking like your favorite Disney character.

	Helium is used in weddings, oops, welding. It is put on metals to 
protect them from oxygen.

	Helium is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. I would assume that it 
is textureless, and soundless but I might be wrong. 

	Helium, on the periodic table, is after hydrogen and before lithium 
and it was discovered in 1895 by Sir William Ramsay in Great Britian. (Hey 
guys, look what I found!) 

	Helium is my favorite element next to gold, silver, mercury, 
hydrogen, oxygen, plutonium, and neon. If you don't have a favorite 
element, collect them all.